Tag: creativity

Searching for locations: Oreti Village – No two sunrises are the same – 1

Oreti village, Pukawa Bay, North Island, New Zealand

On the southern tip of Lake Taupo

Our first morning there, a Saturday.  Winter.  Cold.  And a beautiful sunrise.

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This was taken from the balcony, overlooking the lake.

The sun is just creeping up over the horizon

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It gradually gets lighter, and then the sun breaks free of the low cloud

It lights up the balcony

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And the trees just beyond, a cascade of colorful ferns.

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It looks like its going to be a fine day, our first for this trip, and we will be heading to the mountains to see snow, for the first time for two of our granddaughters.

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 60

What story does it inspire?

…

…

What does a photograph of a wall conjure up?

If it’s a bad day, then the answer to that is nothing. Looking at a bare wall is like examining the whys and wherefores of writer’s block.

Some days the ideas just can’t find their way to the surface. Other days, they come out of left field, and some, well, you have to wonder where they came from.

For instance…

There is that eternal device in stories that fuels many a story, how does a person get murdered in a room with no windows, a single door, and it is locked from the inside, with the key in the lock.

The simple answer, there has to be a hatch, in the floor or in the wall.

Yes, there’s a secret panel – or on thorough checking, there is not. But there has to be, and so we just about pull the wall apart looking for the secret entrance.

Maybe if there were shelves in front of the wall, we could have the classic shelf door.

Is it possible that the murderer could somehow pass through the wall? We could have people postulating that the killer was able to rearrange their molecules so he or she could pass through.

Scientifically impossible.

But, there again, we are writing fiction. Anything is possible.

I like my idea better, the killer arrived in a time machine. I’ve often wondered just how much damage we could do if we could travel in time, backwards or forwards, but the more I think about it, time travel could only be into the past, because the future hasn’t been written yet.

So that’s my premise, as the main character, as the detective. The story is trying to convince everyone else, and that I’m not stark staring mad.

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 59

What story does it inspire?

…

…

There’s nothing like a mass of ice to start thinking about the Titanic.

Come to think of it, there are so many sayings that use the Titanic as an expression of disaster, it’s impossible to imagine that an icescape could be a thing of beauty.

Of course, being stuck on the ice is probably the worst thing that could happen to you.

Firstly, if you were to fall overboard on a cruise in icy water you probably wouldn’t have much time before you froze to death.

If you were flying over the ice and the plane came down, and if you are that lucky you survived the plane crash, being exposed to the cold outside without adequate clothing will have the same effect.

If you decide that doing a stint as a scientist at one of the Antarctica scientific stations is something you would consider, perhaps a little practice in icy conditions and freezing cold would be required.

We visited the replica of the Mawson hut that was on Antarctica, when we were in Hobart last year, and it was interesting. Although rather primitive, it had a recording of the sounds of the wind and snow in the background and that would have driven me nuts after a day.

And yet, it must be interesting working down there.

Story wise though, Alistair McLean wrote the definitive story, Ice Station Zebra, one I suggest you read.

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 58

What story does it inspire?

…

…

As we all know from folklore, there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But…

Here’s the thing – you cannot get to the end of the rainbow.

I know, I’ve tried. A few years back in New Zealand, we were coming down the mountain road and at the turn, that’s where the rainbow ended. It was quite clear, there, before us, but by the time we reached it, a few seconds later, it was gone.

So, what do rainbows represent?

The technical reality is that it is just light refracting on raindrops. Boring, huh?

How about something more positive, that it is a symbol of hope.

In Greek and Roman mythology, Iris the goddess of the rainbow was one of the messengers of the gods.

In other mythology, a leprechaun buries a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

However…

If we are going to consider the possibilities of using a rainbow in a story, whether it is the catalyst for an event, either good or bad, since I prefer the glass-half-full version, let’s just say our protagonist, at a very low point after some devastating news, just happens t look out and see a rainbow.

What happens after that is up to your imagination…

First Dig Two Graves – the editor’s second draft – Day 21

This book has finally come back from the Editor, so this month it is going to get a second revision, a second draft for the editor, and beta readers.

…

But, here’s the thing.

John and Zoe are nowhere near Vienna, Zoe having gone to Bucharest and then Zurich on her way back to see John who was going to pick her up from the airport, and then the both of them were going to Lucerne for a few days.

A reminiscing cruise on Lake Geneva had been on the cards, but there might not be time.

First, they had to do some work on charting who was trying to kill her, because she has finally come to the realization that there is more than one.  Her visit to Bucharest yielded another name, quite possibly the person who was masquerading as Komarov.

Second, John was intending to introduce her to the new members of their team, the team he hasn’t quite got around to telling her about, who will be dedicated to research, investigation, and, via Isobel and the dark web, organizing the hits.

John had decided that she should not have to be distracted by finding work, just doing the work.  He was going to take care of the rest.

Perhaps a good time would be over dinner?

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Rupert are on surveillance duties while Isobel is tracking down which hotel the lovebirds are staying in. As soon as she has the information, Rupert is on the job.

She then moved to track John, knowing Zoe will be with him because she has seen the passenger lists for flights from Bucharest to anywhere.

Both are thankful neither John nor Zoe was in Vienna, which then makes it a priority that neither Worthington of Arabella should leave, except to go back home.  Although they hadn’t established it was the reason Worthington was in Vienna, it was too close to the bungled attempt on their lives for them not to draw the appropriate conclusion.

Sebastian has a plan B that no one was going to like, not even himself.

Plan A was yet to be formulated.

…

First Dig Two Graves – the editor’s second draft – Day 21

This book has finally come back from the Editor, so this month it is going to get a second revision, a second draft for the editor, and beta readers.

…

But, here’s the thing.

John and Zoe are nowhere near Vienna, Zoe having gone to Bucharest and then Zurich on her way back to see John who was going to pick her up from the airport, and then the both of them were going to Lucerne for a few days.

A reminiscing cruise on Lake Geneva had been on the cards, but there might not be time.

First, they had to do some work on charting who was trying to kill her, because she has finally come to the realization that there is more than one.  Her visit to Bucharest yielded another name, quite possibly the person who was masquerading as Komarov.

Second, John was intending to introduce her to the new members of their team, the team he hasn’t quite got around to telling her about, who will be dedicated to research, investigation, and, via Isobel and the dark web, organizing the hits.

John had decided that she should not have to be distracted by finding work, just doing the work.  He was going to take care of the rest.

Perhaps a good time would be over dinner?

Meanwhile, Sebastian and Rupert are on surveillance duties while Isobel is tracking down which hotel the lovebirds are staying in. As soon as she has the information, Rupert is on the job.

She then moved to track John, knowing Zoe will be with him because she has seen the passenger lists for flights from Bucharest to anywhere.

Both are thankful neither John nor Zoe was in Vienna, which then makes it a priority that neither Worthington of Arabella should leave, except to go back home.  Although they hadn’t established it was the reason Worthington was in Vienna, it was too close to the bungled attempt on their lives for them not to draw the appropriate conclusion.

Sebastian has a plan B that no one was going to like, not even himself.

Plan A was yet to be formulated.

…

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 57

What story does it inspire?

…

…

There is always a place for a romantic walk along the beach on a hot summer night.

At least we all like to think that. Usually, we are competing with hundreds of others and their dogs, some of whom seem to snarl at you, the dogs I mean, not their owners.

Hardly romantic, as it is in the movies. After all, they get the beach cleared of everyone and then it feels like you have the place to yourself.

But, is the beach the place for such a stroll. At night perhaps, or early morning.

I would prefer to go for a stroll in a park, like Central Park in New York, just large enough that you can get enough space to yourself, as well as walk for a long distance, and have a hope that you might see a movie star walking their dog, or just taking in the sunshine.

Unlike, if you were in London, hoping it would not be raining, or snowing, or both, or just simply freezing cold. That, of course, might be Hyde Park, a stroll around the Serpentine, but to be honest I would prefer going to Kew Gardens.

That’s the notion from seeing that photo of dusk at the beach, so many ideas, and not all of them about the sand, the sea, people, dogs, or conversation.

Then, perhaps there is another thought … a sea-based invasion, and just happening to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Just a thought…

First Dig Two Graves – the editor’s second draft – Day 20

This book has finally come back from the Editor, so this month it is going to get a second revision, a second draft for the editor, and beta readers.

…

There’s a certain air of inevitability in the air, that the bad guys are going to succeed in tracking down Zoe, using the very person who wants to keep her safe.

It’s not exactly the result of a sneaky plan using lies and deception to get what Worthington wants, it’s more a fact that the woman he is about to use had already made a bed for herself that others would hardly want to lie in.

Arabella was not a woman who understood or practised monogamy.  She was always a rebel, always had more than one man on the go, and had only married for the convenience, and the money and lifestyle that went with it.

Having children had been a bore, and once they were delivered, they were someone else’s problem.  She was then able to go back to her jet-set lifestyle, touring and cruising the world.

It was also a world that which Worthington and his brother had moved in, and Worthington had been and still was, one of her lovers.  It was what made it so easy for him to enlist her, though she was not really interested in what her son John was up to.  He was too much like his father, and she needed little reminder of him.

For Worthington, he could not believe his luck, for a second time.  It was as if the Gods were lining up the ducks all in a row for him.

But she agreed to a weekend in the best hotel eating the best food and going to a very exclusive concert, where they would be mingling with ‘almost’ royalty.  She loved to drop names.

However, the secret was not a secret the moment she was seen with Worthington by Sebastian, all be it by chance.  Sebastian would have to find John and alert him to the dangers that were about to present themselves in the benign form of his mother.

Could things get any more complicated?

…

Today’s writing, with Zoe languishing in a dungeon waiting for a white knight, 1,650 words, for a total of 52,769.

First Dig Two Graves – the editor’s second draft – Day 20

This book has finally come back from the Editor, so this month it is going to get a second revision, a second draft for the editor, and beta readers.

…

There’s a certain air of inevitability in the air, that the bad buys are going to succeed in tracking down Zoe, using the very person who wants to keep her safe.

It’s not exactly the result of a sneaky plan using lies and deception to get what Worthington wants, it’s more a fact that the woman he is about to use had already made a bed for herself that others would hardly want to lie in.

Arabella was not a woman who understood or practised monogamy.  She was always a rebel, always had more than one man on the go, and had only married for the convenience, and the money and lifestyle that went with it.

Having children had been a bore, and once they were delivered, they were someone else’s problem.  She was then able to go back to her jet-set lifestyle, touring and cruising the world.

It was also a world that which Worthington and his brother had moved in, and Worthington had been and still was, one of her lovers.  It was what made it so easy for him to enlist her, though she was not really interested in what her son John was up to.  He was too much like his father, and she needed little reminder of him.

For Worthington, he could not believe his luck, for a second time.  It was as if the Gods were lining up the ducks all in a row for him.

But she agreed to a weekend in the best hotel eating the best food and going to a very exclusive concert, where they would be mingling with ‘almost’ royalty.  She loved to drop names.

However, the secret was not a secret the moment she was seen with Worthington by Sebastian, all be it by chance.  Sebastian would have to find John and alert him to the dangers that were about to present themselves in the benign form of his mother.

Could things get any more complicated?

…

Today’s writing, with Zoe languishing in a dungeon waiting for a white knight, 1,650 words, for a total of 52,769.

A photograph from the inspirational bin – 56

What story does it inspire?

…

…

While the first thought you might have of what this photograph represents might be of the water, yet again, as it is the same place as that of yesterday, in contrast, this was two days later and later in the day.

What fascinated me this time was the clouds.

I have it in mind that we always seem to imagine that very large alien spaceships are going to come out of the clouds, and that one I saw, well, I stood there for a while half expecting to witness the first alien visit.

It’s probably too much to expect that they would come to Australia first before they went to America, and even less so Queensland.

Except of course, they came to see Surfer’s Paradise, stay in one of the many hotels overlooking the beach and ocean, go to one of a zillion restaurants, get in some surfing, or just laze around for a week or so before they did what they came to do.

Just think, your famous catchline could be, “A funny thing happened on the way to the casino … I ran into this group of aliens … or at least I think they were aliens, it’s hard to tell the way our younger generation gets around these days…”